Dr Cohen on The Rise of AntiJudaism | A Biblical Survey Lecture | Historical Roots of Antisemitism

Описание: In this lecture, we explore one of the most historically significant and sobering chapters in early Christian history — the rise of anti-Judaism. How did a movement born entirely within Judaism come to define itself against the very tradition it emerged from? And what were the consequences of that theological shift?
We walk through Appendix 4 of A Biblical Survey, examining two key early Christian texts that answered the question of Christian identity in very different ways:
📖 The Epistle to the Hebrews — which argues that Judaism was real and true, but merely a foreshadowing of the perfect covenant brought by Christ (continuity & superiority)
📜 The Epistle of Barnabas — which goes much further, claiming Judaism was always a false religion, that Jews misread their own scriptures, and that the Old Testament belongs solely to Christians (discontinuity & rejection)
Together, these texts reveal how early Christians used rhetoric to draw boundaries between themselves and Judaism — and how that rhetoric, though originally about identity, laid the groundwork for centuries of Christian antisemitism.
Topics covered:

What are the "Catholic Epistles" and why do they matter?
How do social groups form identity through contrast?
The Platonic framework behind the Epistle to the Hebrews
The four core arguments of the Epistle of Barnabas
The historical consequences of early Christian anti-Jewish rhetoric

Whether you're a student of theology, biblical history, or religious studies, this lecture offers an honest and nuanced look at a difficult but essential topic.


#BiblicalSurvey #EarlyChristianity #ChurchHistory #AntiJudaism #BibleStudy #Theology #ReligiousStudies #NewTestament #Hebrews #Barnabas #antisemitism